Chapter 623 - 348: Those Who Do Not Plan for the Overall Situation Cannot Plan for a Single Domain!
Chapter 623: Chapter 348: Those Who Do Not Plan for the Overall Situation Cannot Plan for a Single Domain!
Everyone had their own stance and their own way of responding.
Take Liu Hong, for instance. Knowing he was bound to die, he still chose to spill blood at the Xiao Family’s doorstep, forcing the old master to step forward and take charge. From now on, it would be difficult for the Xiao Family to feign weakness. Not only would no one believe them, but it would also arouse suspicion from the Capital Prefecture. People like Liu Hong would never repent, even in death, let alone choose to stand on the Xiao Family’s side.
Chen Yi watched for a moment. Only when Ma Shuhan’s gaze was about to sweep over him did he look back down at the examination questions in his hand.
Chen Yi wondered, "Whether it is a southward campaign or a northward conquest, discussing the root cause now is completely meaningless. Once today’s Annual Examination topics spread, Shu State’s scholarly circles will inevitably be shaken. They will no longer discuss which Scholar performed exceptionally well, but rather who argued the best and who chose the southward campaign. Furthermore..."
He considered another layer—if Bei Mang and the Southern Barbarians heard of the Great Wei Dynasty marshalling its forces, how would they react? Presumably, they would also prepare for war and brace for battle.
He continued to ponder, "The person behind the Ji State Trading Company and Liu Hong is equally a formidable opponent. Even at the cost of sacrificing Ma Shuhan, they insisted on piercing the veil, forcefully dragging both the pro-southward and pro-northward factions to the same table. Now, the person behind the White Tiger Guard is probably having a headache too, right? Heh, of course, the one also having a headache is myself."
A helpless smile tugged at the corners of Chen Yi’s mouth, both because he had to answer this policy question and because his presence in Shu State meant he would inevitably be swept into this vortex.
After a moment of thought, Chen Yi picked up the Wolf Hair Brush resting on the inkstone, unrolled a sheet of paper, and began to write in the entry-level Wei Qing’s Style.
He started with the first Classics question.
"In the final years of the Qianyang era, the ruler of the fallen state practiced Alchemy as a Profound Cultivator. He disregarded the common people, treating their strength as an inexhaustible resource. Valuing Artifacts over livelihoods, he sought immortality while forgetting his duties, ultimately leading to the ’total destruction of timber and the collapse of divine artifacts’..."
"Today, there are three ’Devices’ for pacifying the people: the Measuring Device, the Regulating Device, and the Nurturing Device."
"The Measuring Device equalizes taxes and labor, allowing the people’s strength to recover. The Regulating Device clarifies laws, ensuring the treacherous are punished..."
"The people are the water, and the ruler is the boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. This is an eternal truth that aligns with the Founding Emperor’s precious teachings..."
Addressing the core of the Classics question fluidly and at length, Chen Yi effortlessly penned thousands of words.
When it came to the policy question, Chen Yi pondered for a while before putting his brush to paper.
"Setting aside the southward campaign and northward conquest for a moment, I have one question: Can a nation be divided into south and north? Regardless of whether they are southern or northern citizens, all are subjects of Great Wei. Whether conquering the south or the north, it is the subjects of Great Wei who suffer..."
Indeed, Chen Yi did not intend to choose between the two. Instead, he chose neither.
The southward campaign and the northward conquest were conflicts belonging to the Holy Emperor, the Imperial Court, and certain Noble Families. What did they have to do with the common people? If they won, the merits and wealth would mostly be seized by the Noble clans and gentry. If they lost, the ones hanging white mourning banners would mostly be the families of the common people.
Therefore, Chen Yi wanted to raise an alternative voice outside of the pro-southward and pro-northward factions. Although his individual strength was small, as long as his voice was heard, it would form a banner and attract the attention of some. After all, war had always drained the people and depleted resources; those unwilling to wage war always made up the vast majority.
Thus, Chen Yi planned to light this fire and muddy the waters. Although he did not harbor hopes of a single spark starting a prairie fire, he also did not want to see the people of the world led by the nose by a small minority. It was just as he had written in his policy essay—water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.
Chen Yi wrote with increasing earnestness, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction, completely disregarding his Annual Examination score.
Even if his answer was completely off-topic, so what?
Meanwhile, in the East Market, several streets away from the examination hall.
As Chen Yi wrote furiously, the time had already reached Noon. Most of the commoners wandering around the East Market had returned home, though quite a few were still strolling about. As people moved in and out of the marketplace, some noticed an unusual commotion coming from the Jishi Medicine Hall and quickly gathered around. Before long, the crowd had formed three layers deep, rivaling the throng of onlookers outside the Annual Examination.
Inside the Jishi Medicine Hall.
Pei Guanli sat cross-legged on a table, holding a jug of tea in one hand and gnawing on a roast chicken drumstick with the other, watching the confrontation in the hall with eager excitement.
One side naturally consisted of Ma Liangcai, Yuan Liu’er, Elder Physician Li, and others from the Jishi Medicine Hall. The other side featured a woman around thirty years old—Wen Xiuyin—along with three young people who had accompanied her. Surrounding them were some lingering patients.
"Do Medicine Halls... also face challengers?" an old man murmured. "I’ve lived for so long, and this is the first time I’ve heard of such a thing."
"I-I’ve only heard of Escort Agencies, Martial Arts Halls, and Sects engaging in duels," another bystander added. "How do Physicians compete?"
"Regardless of how they compete, the way I see it, the Jishi Medicine Hall is probably going to lose some face today. Although Doctor Ma’s Medical Skill is superb, I heard he has only reached the entry-level of the Medical Dao. He can hardly be considered someone capable of taking charge of an entire Medicine Hall."
"On the other hand, that woman named Wen or whatever... from what she said, it sounds like she has quite the background."
"An inheritor of You State’s Jiuqu Lineage—her background is more than just ’quite something’!" a knowledgeable onlooker interjected. "Her master, the Jiuqu Divine Doctor, is a renowned Medical Saint Hand in the Jianghu. It’s said he excels at ’fighting poison with poison’ and uses ruthless medicinal methods.
"However, the inheritors of the Jiuqu Lineage mostly have eccentric temperaments. Any Jianghu People seeking their treatment must complete a task for them in return. Assassination, treasure hunting, or even excavating tombs from previous dynasties... These are almost always extremely dangerous tasks. More often than not, those Jianghu People meet a violent end before their injuries and illnesses are even cured."
Among the onlookers were quite a few Wandering Martial Artists from You State, who were now watching the events inside the Jishi Medicine Hall with keen interest. Naturally, they favored Wen Xiuyin and her companions.
Seeing the hostile intent of the new arrivals, Ma Liangcai remained silent for a moment before stepping forward and cupping his hands in greeting. "A healer’s heart is benevolent, seeking only to heal wounds and cure illnesses. What need is there to compare the superiority of our Medical Skills?"
Wen Xiuyin glanced at him and said with a tone of contempt, "The Xiao Family sent a single letter inviting my master to come out of seclusion to treat Duke Dingyuan. We are simply returning the favor."
What a way to return the favor.
A bitter smile appeared on Ma Liangcai’s face. He knew these people were dead set on dragging the Jishi Medicine Hall’s reputation through the mud, but there was nothing he could do. His current progress in the Medical Dao was too low. Whether it was competing in pharmacology, medical theory, Medical Skill, or actually treating patients, he was inferior.
As he hesitated, Pei Guanli, who never minded a situation escalating, hopped off the table. With a JINGLE JINGLE of her bells, she walked into the center of the room.
Tossing the gnawed-clean chicken bone out of the Medicine Hall—hitting a Wandering Martial Artist who had been disparaging them—she said, "Little Ma, how about you let me handle this?"
Seeing her step forward, Ma Liangcai hurriedly bowed and said, "Junior Master Pei, please go ahead."
That single address of "Junior Master Pei" made Pei Guanli beam with joy, her eyes curving into beautiful half-moons. She then looked at Wen Xiuyin, clapped her hands to wipe off the grease, and said with a smile, "I’m the one calling the shots in this Medicine Hall now."
Wen Xiuyin scrutinized her, naturally recognizing her identity as a member of the Mountain Race. Although feeling somewhat displeased, she remembered the status of the Mountain Race in Shu State and suppressed her temper to ask, "May I ask which tribe within the Mountain Race this young lady hails from?"
There were Thirteen Tribes on Wumeng Mountain. Although collectively called the Mountain Race, there were distinctions between them.
Pei Guanli looked at her with a beaming smile. "What? You want to clarify my identity so you can judge whether your Jiuqu Lineage can afford to offend me?"
Wen Xiuyin furrowed her brows tightly.
Before she could speak, a young man behind her stepped forward and scolded, "Who do you think you are? Although we must respect the Mountain Race upon arriving in Shu State, it doesn’t mean just any Mountain Race member can insult us at will!"
Hearing this, Wen Xiuyin paused, then simply looked at Pei Guanli without saying another word.
The words were blunt, but the logic was sound.
They had come this time not only to treat Duke Dingyuan but also to reclaim some face for the Jiuqu Divine Doctor. At the very least, they couldn’t break the rules of their Jiuqu Lineage. If they were scared off by a mere Mountain Race member, not only would they fail to reclaim their dignity, but they would lose even more of it. If word spread in the future, their Jiuqu Lineage would likely become the laughingstock of the entire Jianghu.
Pei Guanli glanced at the young man, raised a hand to scratch her cheek, and said, "This humble girl is Pei Guanli. What a coincidence, I happen to have some connection to Granny Shan."
Within the borders of Shu State, she naturally had no intention of holding back. The name of the Mountain Race was hers to wield, and Granny Shan was her closest relative, giving her the freedom to act as she pleased.
Even to the point of...
Just as the young man was about to turn his head and ask Wen Xiuyin who Granny Shan was, his entire body suddenly pitched forward.
He had unexpectedly passed out.
Startled, Wen Xiuyin crouched down to check his pulse. Seeing that he was merely unconscious, she tilted her head back to glare at Pei Guanli. "Is this... is this how your Mountain Race does things?!"